Press Release
Race 7 - May 5: Sunny King Criterium, 70/1hr+5 laps (M/W)
Travieso's first win; Cheerwine dominates
By Kirsten Robbins in Anniston Alabama
May 5, 2007
The penultimate criterium in the South East Series ended in a mad battle between AEG-Toshiba, Rite Aid and Colavita/Sutter Home during the last laps of the 70 lap race. In the end it was Frank Travieso (AEG-Toshiba) who nipped the Argentinean Alejandro Borrajo on the line while Luca Damiani (Colavita/Sutter Home) jumped from behind to take third place.
The night's criterium fell similar to last night's race where Borrajo beat Kayle Leogrande (Rock Racing) and Travieso to the line. The AEG-Toshiba winner commented on the trade off. "We needed a win today and my team said they were gong to work for me, so I said, 'it's a deal'," he explained.
With the three teams neck-to-neck on the final lap it was Rite Aid that come through the last corner first. "I came into the last corner in third place and Borrajo past me coming out of it," Travieso added. "The other night he won and I was second and today I won and he was second so we switched positions tonight."
Borrajo commented on his team's effort in helping him stay out of trouble during the end of the race. "I wanted to stay up front with my team out front so that I didn't have to fight for position," Borrajo said. "All of the sprinters were around me coming to the end so we used our speed to stop from being swarmed."
Several breaks were established but it was Adam Bergman (Colavita/Sutter Home) who initiated the most significant taking three other riders with him. The break of four riders included AEG-Toshiba, Kelly Benefits, and Rite Aid but their lost organization combined with Jittery Joes chase to bring them back after 10 laps.
Third placed on the podium was Luca Damiani (Colavita/Sutter Home) who benefited from his team's aggression during the race. "We started our lead out with five laps to go and it is an amazing feeling to have them working so hard for me because I am young and new on the team," Damiani said. "They were working hard to keep me in the front and in good position and I wanted to give everything back for them.
"With ten laps to go it was a race for the strong men with a lot of fighting and touching wheels," Damiani added.
VanGilder takes two
The last lap of the women's one-hour criterium saw Cheerwine dominate the lead once again proving it has the strongest criterium team present in the South East Series. Its sprinter Laura VanGilder took the initiative out of the last corner to jump into the victory over Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home) and Sarah Caravella (Aaron's).
Aaron's Catherine Powers and Cheerwine's Chrissy Ruiter forced Colavita/Sutter Home in a chase midway through the race as the two gained a maximum of 25 seconds on the bunch. A solo counter attack from Hub-Racing's Dale Tye prompted many teams to jump in a bridge attempt, sending several riders to the front in an effort to reconnect. "It was effective because Colavita missed the break and they were forced into chasing and to have to put forth effort while Kat and I were able to sit in a save our legs for the finish," said third placed rider Sarah Caravalla.
Cheerwine's race winner Laura VanGilder commented on the late break as a good move on Tye's end but a waiting game for Cheerwine. "It was certainly a good move on her part but I felt that we should be patient and get our team together and real her in and still have adequate time to prepare for the lead out," VanGilder said. "Aaron's was keen to have a lead out too and ended up helping everyone up at the front. We were battling them for third wheel and Kat Carroll got that spot."
Katherine Carroll (Aaron's) positioned herself behind Catherine Cheatley (Cheerwine). Cheatley jumped out of the last corner with VanGilder on her wheel. "Aaron's was leading it out for Caravalla and all the sprinters were capitalizing on their lead outs," said Carroll. "I came around Cheatley and didn't look back to notice where Pic was positioned."
VanGilder and Pic are both in the hunt for the lead in the overall standings. Pic was caught back several wheels in the final sprint but is not giving up on her goals of keeping the lead of the South East Crit Series.
Photography
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RESULTS
Pro men
- 1 Frank Travieso (AEG-Toshiba)
- 2 Alejandro Borrajo (Rite Aid)
- 3 Luca Damiani (Colavita/Sutter Home)
Pro women
- 1 Laura VanGilder (Cheerwine)
- 2 Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home)
- 3 Sarah Caravella (Aaron's)